Projek terhad dorong ahli niaga Cina guna syarikat Bumiputera

Metrasys Sdn Bhd executive Lian Tian Chuan admitted before the High Court in Kuala Lumpur that Nepturis Sdn Bhd, a 100% Bumiputera-owned company, was not registered as the true owner of the company with the SSM. The 54-year-old, who testified during the trial of former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, stated that he and his wife were Metrasys shareholders, with him investing funds into Nepturis through a co-owner, Rizman Akum Khan and Aliza Malek.

When questioned about his defense counsel's allegation, Amer Hamzah Arshad, Lian confirmed Metrasys as a non-Bumiputera-owned company cannot apply for government projects designated for Bumiputera companies. Amer asked if Nepturis was then used by Lian to try and obtain projects reserved for Bumiputera companies, to which Lian agreed.

Lian admitted that his actual ownership status in Nepturis was not reported to the Malaysian Companies Commission (SSM) and agreed with Amer's assertion that the government would not be aware of his involvement in Nepturis. Amer then asked if Lian was controlling Nepturis from the shadows, to which Lian agreed. During a re-examination, Deputy Prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin asked Lian why Metrasys never applied for government projects, to which Lian said there were few opportunities for non-Bumiputera companies to apply, but many for Bumiputera companies, while adding that he had no intention of deceiving the Finance Ministry by using Nepturis.

When asked why he did not convert Metrasys into a Bumiputera-owned company and place Rizman and Aliza as shareholders, Lian said his intent was to maintain ownership of Metrasys for himself and his wife. Lian previously testified in December 2020 when he requested assistance from former Segambut Barisan Nasional deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad to secure contracts under the Jan Wibawa initiative launched during the Covid-19 pandemic to help Bumiputera contractors.

Adam later accused him of informing him about Jan Wibawa projects to build a Klang Utara IPD and having him provide a letter of intent to Muhyiddin to support the Nepturis tender application. On January 12, 2022, Nepturis was awarded a RM141 million contract to build the Klang Utara IPD. A month later, Lian admitted contributing RM1 million to Bersatu.

Two weeks later, Muhyiddin faced seven charges related to the Jan Wibawa program, including four charges of using his position to solicit RM225.3 million in bribes from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis, Mamfor Sdn Bhd, Azman Yusoff, and KCJ Engineering Sdn Bhd. He also faced three charges of converting illicit funds involving RM200 million allegedly received from Bukhary Equity and deposited in accounts at AmBank and CIMB Bank. The trial before Judge Noor Ruwena Nurdin continued the following day.